Organic Molecules and Water

 

Carbon Organic chemistry involves the study of carbon-containing compounds associated with life.

General Description of Organic Molecules biomolecules, are made up of carbon bonded with other elements, such as hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Carbon atoms have four electrons in their outer shells

Structure and Shape of Organic Molecules complex molecules can be long chains, ring- shaped molecules, or a combination of the two

Complex Organic Molecules A group of atoms that is held together by covalent bonds is known as a molecule. – When bonding occurs between two or more carbon atoms, the group is known as an organic molecule.

Complex Organic Molecules A group of atoms that is held together by covalent bonds is known as a molecule. – When bonding occurs between two or more carbon atoms, the group is known as an organic molecule.

Biological Molecules The subunits, or building blocks, are called monomers Polymers are the complex molecules formed from the repeating monomers.

There are four basic classes of complex organic molecules, or macromolecules, that compose cells: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids

Carbohydrates excellent source of energy. (The energy is released when these bonds are broken.) The building blocks of carbohydrates are the simple sugars known as monosaccharides Monosaccharides can be combined to form more complex carbohydrates known as polysaccharides – Glycogen, starch, and cellulose are all examples 1 carbon atom : 2 hydrogen atoms : 1 oxygen atom

Lipids Lipids are organic macromolecules that are insoluble in water often found in biological membranes and other waterproof coverings Triglycerides are a type of fat that contain one glycerol molecule and three fatty acids

The fatty acids in saturated fats do not contain any double bonds between the CH 2 units – butter, cheese, chocolate, beef, and coconut oil unsaturated fats contain some carbon-carbon double bonds. – olives and olive oil, peanuts and peanut oil, fish, and mayonnaise

Proteins Proteins are organic macromolecules that are composed of amino acid monomers carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (some sulfur) Water is the most abundant molecule in the body, but proteins are the second most abundant type of molecule

Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are formed from nucleotide monomers They consist of a five-carbon sugar, a nitrogenous base, and one or more phosphate groups. ribonucleic acids (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA)

Adenine (A), cytosine (C), and guanine (G) are found in both DNA and RNA. Thymine (T) is only found in DNA, and uracil (U) is only found in RNA.

Importance & Properties of Water Water has many unique properties that make it essential for life on Earth.

Molecular Shape and Properties A water molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H 2 O) The oxygen end of the molecule carries a negative charge and the hydrogen end of the molecule carries a positive charge This causes water molecules to be attracted to other water molecules (cohesion). These charges also cause water to be attracted to other materials that carry an electrical charge (adhesion).

Water is a polar molecule

universal solvent because it dissolves such a large number of substances – due to its polar nature.

Surface Tension Surface tension is a force acting on the surface of a liquid that tends to make the surface curved

Density

solid water (ice) is less dense than liquid water.

Water and Life Water is the most abundant molecule found in living organisms Most plants and animals are made up of more than 60% water by mass Mammals (including humans) are composed of approximately 70% water by mass is it also known as the solvent of life

pH